Vengeance for Victoria: A Murder Mystery by Simone Avory

Author:Simone Avory [Avory, Simone]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Published: 2024-03-02T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

As Lucas regained consciousness, he felt a lingering grogginess and disorientation. His head throbbed with a dull ache, and his eyes, heavy and reluctant, gradually opened. The slow clearing of the fog that had enveloped his mind marked the transition from unconsciousness to wakefulness. Regaining alertness involved adjusting to his surroundings and piecing together the events leading up to his previous state of unconsciousness.

Lucas discovered his arms and legs tied with a rope. He tried to raise his head, but the bright sun stung his eyes, preventing him from seeing clearly.

Lucas struggled unsuccessfully to break loose. Frightened, he whimpered aloud. "What the hell?"

"You're awake. Thank goodness." Ciara said, letting out a sigh of relief.

He groaned at the aches that jolted his brain within seconds. "What happened?"

"You passed out," said Ciara. Their captors had tied her hands and legs as well. "You had me worried there for a while."

"Did they hurt you?" he asked, but she shook her head.

"Aww, isn't this just romantic?" a voice spoke sarcastically.

Lucas recognized the voice. He looked in the direction of the sound and scoffed. "They took you, too?"

"What do you think?!" the man who saved them the night before snarked, struggling with the restraints that bound him to a chair. "This is where being good gets you: in the kidnappers' den. I should never have returned to save your sorry asses," he complained bitterly.

For some reason, Ciara found his whining rather hilarious.

"Oh, this is fun to you?"

"Sorry," she laughed lightly, "you forget we're all in this together."

"Like that's supposed to make me feel better."

Lucas meticulously observed the surroundings and realized they were in an abandoned cabin, dilapidated with a dented roof. From the distant sounds of hummingbirds, the fragrance of pine needles mingling with the rich scent of soil, and the earthly perfume of damped moss and fallen leaves, he surmised they were most probably being held captive in the forest.

"That man who attacked us at the hotel last night, do you think he's my sister's killer?" Ciara asked Lucas.

"You mean the exterminator whom I saved you from?"

Lucas ignored the stranger and replied, "I think so." He attempted to free himself again, but the struggle yielded no fruit.

"Or maybe Jenna Winston sent him?"

"Who's Jenna? What's going on here?" the stranger chirped, and again, we ignored him.

"Jenna? Come on, surely, you don't think she had something to do with all of this," said Lucas.

"Yes, it is plausible. I'm certain of this: that man, the killer, knew us and our movements."

Ciara's theory got Lucas pondering. For all he knew, she could be right. The killer certainly knew where and how to find them, which was much more than a coincidence. Someone who knew about their whereabouts had sent him, and whoever that person was, they were most likely Victoria's killer.

"Guys, I'm lost here. Can someone please tell me what the hell is going on here?!" he demanded.

"Now is not the time, man!" Lucas barked. "We need to get out of here. If I can just..." he persisted with his feeble attempt to break free.

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